Christological of Hebrews

In Hebrews the use of the O.T. is mainly Christological. Christ is the crucial figure in the fulfillment of the O.T. text. The preacher does not refer to contemporary Judaism, but to the Old Covenant and priestly institutions as revealed in the Pentateuch. “Christ stands in continuity with this system by fulfilling it.”[1] Christ is the goal of the Old Testament revelation. It appears that the readers had an insufficient view of Christ and His work, grace, and the Abrahamic promise. Cockerill observes: “To practice the old before Christ was to anticipate his fulfillment, to practice it after, however, is to deny his sufficiency.”[2] The theme is Christ being superior to the Old Testament ritualism— ritualism that is coming to an end. Christ’s superiority is brought out by the continued use of the word “better,” indicating Christ is better than the angels, Moses, and Abraham. One of the most significant Christological statements in Scripture is Hebrews 1:3-4, which centers upon His person. Christ is the Son of God, the Savior, and exalted Lord. The preacher presents one of the strongest theologies of Christ of the New Testament. The theology sections include:

• He is the revelation of God (1:1-4).
• He is superior to the angels (1:5-2:18)
• He is superior to Moses (3:1-4:13).
• He is the Sympathetic High Priest (4:14-5:10).
• He is the Priest like Melchizedek (7:1-28).
• High Priest is made perfect by Sacrifice (8:1-28)
• Christ the Perfect Sacrifice (10:18)

The sermon centers upon Christ as High Priest (8:1, 13:10), which is the author’s most distinctive contribution to Christology. Only He deals with this subject. The doctrine of Christ’s High Priesthood is the theological center of the epistle.[3]

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[1]  Gareth Lee Cockerill, NICNT: HEBREWS, 21.

[2]  Ibid, 40.

[3]  David MacLeod, “The Doctrinal Center of the Book of Hebrews,” BIBLIOTHECA-SACRA, July 1989, 293.